JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. -- Members of Bryce Denton's family have been die-hard St. Louis Cardinals fans for as long as he can remember.

Now he's done his part to bring one of their affiliates a championship.

Denton homered and drove in a career-high five runs on Wednesday night as Johnson City captured its fourth Appalachian League crown in seven years with an 11-6 victory over Burlington at Howard Johnson Field.

"Every day since I signed my contract last year, it's like a dream come true," the third baseman said. "I have been still learning. It has been a grind, figuring things out for myself."

Denton's three-run blast capped a five-run seventh inning that snapped a tie in Game 2 of the best-of-3 Finals. He drove in the Cardinals' first two runs with a second-inning double.